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Monday, October 19, 2015

Match Review: Loko vs Kingston Ravens

Sunday Chessington League

Division 3Sun 18th Oct 2015Loko 2 vs Kingston Ravens 3

SOME LOSSES ARE EASIER TO TAKE

The Beer tastes better after. M Fanthom 2015

Let's get this out the way first. Last week hurt! To lose to a team that you are superior to is never easy to take . We just collectively weren't good enough. With this in mind the thought of playing top of the league Kingston Ravens, this week, should have had us worried? Did it heck!

From the moment we switched on for the warm-up, spirits were up, adrenaline flowing and revisits of last week's performance from Matt & Gary's talk had everyone believing we are as good, if not better than any other team in this league.

Straight from kick of Loko wanted this. A revived look of passing, possession and winning balls in the air. From the back to the midfield and on to our two forwards it was clear to see we wanted this and Tony was in no mood to be letting goals in with some great saves and huge kicks, which sre enough paid off after 5 minutes. James T ran onto one and took it past two players and around the charging-out keeper, with a nice cut back inside and low shot into the goal.

1-0

This was cancelled out 5 minutes later following a defensive mix-up that let the Ravens in for an easy tap in to level up the score 1-1. This is when Loko heads usually go down , but not today!

Lee increasingly was influencing the game going on great runs and taking on players including going through three players on the left and pushing a ball square to Hayden whose low shot was wide of the goal.

Dave F had clearly had his Weetabix that morning, as he was a constant threat with great crosses, corners and free kicks being put in the danger areas. This paid off when a corner from the right was swung in low to Luke who guided the cross into the back of the net from the front post via some defenders.

2-1 up and shots still coming from James T, Ash, Dave F, Luke and Matt. A pinpoint ball from the skipper Matt, to James who crossed, created a goalmouth scramble that their keeper luckily collected. Ash was a constant threat up top last week, this week he fought and battled hard and well, a little deeper, to become provider for the front two. The defence was strong with offside traps being called right from Mark, clearances from Scott including a full heroic body on the line slide to prevent their striker increasing their lead, and runs and headers from Danny consolidating the defensive performance.

Unfortunately just before half time their no.10, who was by far their best player, made a little space and fired in a rocket from outside the box! 2-2 (Great Goal )

Half Time

When Gaffer Gary is positive with the half time talk, you know we've played well!

Second half started well with Luke holding the ball up and playing James through whose pace scared the opposition.

Around the 70 minute mark a double header from the Ravens resulted in a suspect offside goal being conceded, no flag, so the goal stood. 2-3.

This hurt, but Loko continued to push for an equaliser. This inevitably led to continuous dangerous counter attacks from the opposition with Mark heading clear and Scott working overtime to keep them out; Colin obliged by pushing shots wide of goal. Luke continued to win every ball from countless throw-ins with James running off them and turning provider with some great balls into the box, one of which found a confident Dave in the box and a clever finish saw the ball in the net. Looking up to celebrate he realised the flag was up for offside.

Dave came off for Ismail who slotted into right back solidly, never looking vulnerable whilst Danny ran the wing.

Then it happened.........

The return of Sicknote on 80 mins. Gary on for Matt. Corner from Ravens, ball out of play, Gary off for Matt! 81 mins.

Hayden off for Dave and continued pressure with a good shot from Lee palmed away and a shout for a penalty from James right at the death, but it wasn't to be Loko's day.

Lokomotiv 2-3 Kingston Ravens

With Little Matt, Neil and Gary to return to action things could just be looking up!

Weekly Three Questions:

1. Did we deserve to win? No ( Draw fair )

2. Did we put it in today? Yes

3. Man Of The Match?

Some solid performances this week, everyone played their part, but ScottBright gets M.O.M for his constant battling, ball winning (even if he did deliberately handball it twice) and threatening throw-ins.